UPDATE & PICTURES: Cannabis with street value of £1m found by police at Shipley warehouse after tip-off

A HUGE cannabis factory containing about 1,000 plants with an estimated street value of more than £1 million has been found in a police raid at a warehouse in Shipley.

West Yorkshire Police carried out the operation today at the red brick canalside premises in Ashley Lane following a tip-off.

Two men, aged 28 and 18, were found inside the building and arrested.

The building, which has not been used commercially for some time, is several storeys high and photographs taken by West Yorkshire Police show it was crammed with plants in varying sizes as well as preparation rooms and a room where the harvested cannabis was being dried.

It is understood the same building was used for a cannabis farm two years ago.

A police spokesman said tonight: “Police carried out a drugs warrant at a warehouse in Ashley Lane, Shipley after receiving information about the premises.

“A large quantity of cannabis plants was seized and two males aged 18 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of cannabis production.

“Both remain in custody and inquiries are continuing.”

A mechanic who rents an adjoining premises said he had smelled cannabis on several occasions but had not realised it was coming from the warehouse.

“I have seen a few cars coming and going recently but not thought much about it. The police have taken my CCTV footage to see what it may show."

Business partners Luke Fisher and Ben Leach, who run Quays Cafe and Bar nearby, said they had noticed police activity for some time.

“There had been police around for a few weeks but we had no idea what it was about,” said Mr Leach.

“We had also smelled cannabis outside on occasions but thought it was someone smoking it nearby. You could smell it mostly around the bridge.

“We’ve been open around seven months and I’d say I first noticed the smell of cannabis in the summer.

“I certainly had no idea an operation like that was going on there because the building looked derelict and unused.”

Police remained on guard at the building tonight while arrangements were made to make safe the electricity supply the growers were using and to remove the plants.

Ipsoregulated

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